Replaceable graphic display

ABSTRACT

Display shelves having a support panel mountable on a transparent wall and supporting a floor on which products are placed for display through the transparent wall are provided with replaceable graphic display panels. The replaceable panels define a first section which is positionable between the transparent wall and a portion of the support panel and a second section hingedly joined thereto which ties on the floor of the display shelf. The first section carries graphics which are displayed through the transparent wall. The graphic display panel, however, may be readily removed and replaced to change the graphic display without changing the display shelf.

[0001] This invention relates to display of products and product containers such as candies, bottles, cans and the like. More particularly, it relates to merchandise display shelves adapted for mounting on one face of a substantially transparent wall to support products on the wall and display the products and graphics such as advertising and the like associated with the products through the transparent wall.

[0002] Retail businesses commonly display chilled products for sale in refrigerated vaults or the like which have a transparent door or wall panel. Because a passing customer is more likely to select and purchase merchandise displayed where they can be readily seen and recognized, the retailer desires to maximize visibility of products on display as well as advertising graphics associated with the products on display.

[0003] Various devices are used to support and display product on a wall, door or the like. Most such display devices either display no advertising graphics (relying on visibility of the product to advertise the product) or have advertising graphics associated with a particular product permanently formed in or affixed to the display device. Typical of such arrangements are display shelves such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,433 wherein advertising graphics are displayed on a face of the support panel to be visible through the transparent wall to which the support panel is attached.

[0004] Advertising graphics associated with merchandise displayed for sale greatly increase visibility of the product and thus promote sales. Accordingly, merchants often desire to change the graphics associated with a product and/or change the product displayed, thus necessitating a change of displayed graphics. However, where the graphics are permanently affixed to the display shelf, the entire display shelf must be replaced to change the graphic display.

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, display shelves adapted to be mounted on the face of a substantially transparent panel such as a glass window, door or the like are provided with a removeable and replaceable graphic display panel. The replaceable graphic display panel is formed to define a first section aligned with the face of the support panel of the display shelf and a second section aligned with and adjacent the floor of the shelf supported by the support panel. The first section (on which advertising graphics and the like are displayed) is thus positioned between the face of the support panel and the transparent wall or window on which the display shelf is mounted so that the graphics are visible through the transparent wall along with the products supported on the shelf. The graphic display panel, however, is readily removeable and replaceable with other such panels displaying other graphics. Accordingly, the graphic display panel may be changed as desired without removing the display shelf to change graphics associated with the products displayed. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and attached drawing in which:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a display shelf supporting a replaceable graphic display panel in accordance with the invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is an end view of the assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating attachment of the display shelf and graphic display panel on a transparent wall;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the replaceable graphic display panel of FIG. 1; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the replaceable graphic display panel of FIG. 3 in its folded condition.

[0010] The above-described drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Throughout the drawing, like reference numerals designate corresponding elements. This drawing, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention and is included for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative examples of how the invention can be made and used. The drawing is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the illustrated and described examples.

[0011] The embodiment illustrated comprises a display shelf 40 with a replaceable graphics panel 50. The display shelf 40 comprises a mounting or support panel 10 which has a first face 11 lying in a substantially vertical plane and defining lower edge 12, first and second laterally opposed end edges 13, 14 and upper edge 15. Floor 20 is supported on the support panel and has a top face 21 which lies in a plane substantially normal to the plane of first face 11 and intersects the plane of the first face 11 well below the upper edge 15 of the support panel. The support panel 10 does not extend into the area directly above the floor 20 for a substantial lateral portion thereof between the laterally opposed edges 13, 14 so that products supported on floor 20 may be placed directly adjacent the transparent wall on which the shelf is mounted and thus visible through the transparent wall.

[0012] A containment wall 30 extends upwardly from the top face 21 of the floor 20. A major portion of wall 30 is spaced horizontally from the plane of first face 11 of the support panel 10. The ends of the containment wall join the support panel 10 to define a open-topped cavity 31 defined by floor 20, containment wall 30 and the transparent wall 70 (see FIG. 2) on which the display shelf is mounted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ends of containment wall 30 join support panel 10 at positions interiorly spaced from first and second edges 13, 14 and the support panel 10 extends upwardly from the plane of top face 21 of the floor 20 and outwardly from the ends of the containment wall 30 to define flanges 33, 34. Flanges 33, 34 thus form coplanar spaced apart portions of support panel 10.

[0013] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the containment wall 30 defines a plurality of joined vertically extending semi-cylindrical sections shaped to define individual containment compartments for a plurality of individual vertically arranged cylindrical or otherwise vertically extending products or packages. Each section 36 defines a semi-cylindrical arc extending upwardly from the floor 20. Each of the arcuate sections 36 is shaped to define a containment compartment for cylindrical objects such as cans, bottles, etc. Obviously, shapes other than arcuate or semi-cylindrical may be employed, depending on the shape and dimensions of the product units to be displayed. Furthermore, it is to be understood that terms such as “containment wall” and “containment compartment” as used herein are meant to describe structures which restrain lateral movement of an object placed within the boundaries thereof and are not intended to describe fully enclosed compartments. For example, the semi-cylindrical sections 36 of wall 30 do not define enclosed containment compartments but define boundaries for supporting substantially cylindrical objects vertically and act as containment walls or the like for limiting lateral movement of individual products positioned on the display shelf. Therefore, sections 36 need not be joined to form a continuous wall structure. Furthermore, the shape of sections 36 need not be arcuate but may be of any suitable configuration depending on the product to be displayed on the floor 20 or shelf 40.

[0014] In the embodiment illustrated the first face 11 of support panel 10 is positioned parallel with the surface of a transparent wall 70 on which the shelf 40 is mounted and extends below the floor 20. Thus first face 11 may conveniently be used to display advertising or the like which is visible through the transparent wall 70 immediately below the product supported by the shelf 20. Positioning the support panel 10 to extend the full length of and past the outer edges of floor 20 provides rigid support for the floor 20 and permits display of advertising or other information associated with the displayed product on the support panel 10 without obstructing view of the displayed product.

[0015] The outer edges of support panel 10 terminate in flanges 33, 34 as described hereinabove. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the flanges 33 and 34 may include slots 41 for mounting the support panel 10 adjacent the inner surface of a transparent wall 70 as shown in FIG. 2. Various means for securing the support panel 10 to the transparent wall, such as suction cups 60 or the like, may be used. As illustrated in FIG. 2, suction cups 60 each have a shank 61 which extends through a slot 41 to support the first face 11 of support panel 10 parallel with a surface of transparent wall 70. While use of suction cups is illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be readily appreciated that various other means such as adhesives, clamps, magnets, bolts and the like may be used to attach the display shelf 40 to a transparent wall 70. All such mounting means, however, result in mounting first face 11 adjacent and parallel with the transparent wall 70 but spaced from the wall 70 forming a space 99 between the inner face of transparent wall 70 and first face 11 of the display shelf 40.

[0016] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 some slots 41 are formed at the inner edges of flanges 33. If desired (and to permit more secure mounting of the shelf) slots 41 may be formed in the lower edge 12 of support panel 10 and arranged so that the entrance of each slot 41 is at the lower edge of support panel 10. Alternatively (or in conjunction with other slots, holes or the like), slots 41 may be formed in flanges 33, 34 and arranged to have their entrances at the outer edges of the flanges. It will be appreciated that various other combinations and arrangements of slots, holes and the like may be used to mount the display shelf adjacent a transparent wall.

[0017] Where advertising or other graphic information is displayed on the front of face 11, the graphic information is displayed directly below the product supported on the floor 20 and thus visible through transparent wall 70. When the graphic information is formed on or permanently affixed to first face 11, the entire shelf 40 must be removed and replaced to replace the graphic display. In accordance with the invention, however, the graphic information is displayed on the first section 51 of replaceable graphic panel 50. Panel 50 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) comprises sheet of paper, plastic or the like having opposed major faces which is divided into a first section 51 and a second section 52 by a score line 53. Score line 53 may be a perforated line, a score which only partially penetrates the panel 50, a permanent crease or any other device or structure which permits the first section 51 to hingedly depend from the second section 52.

[0018] The first section 51 is preferably sized, shaped and adapted to extend into the space 99 between the first face 11 and the transparent wall 70. Accordingly, graphics displayed thereon will be displayed and visible through transparent wall 70 directly below the product resting on floor 20. The second section 52 is sized, shaped and adapted to lie on the floor 20. The second section 52 may be temporarily attached to floor 20 by adhesive, tape or the like if desired, but may be simply secured to floor 20 by the weight of displayed product resting thereon. Since panel 50 is not permanently attached to the display shelf 40, the display panel 50 may be easily and readily removed and replaced to change the advertising graphics associated with the product displayed on the shelf 40.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, advertising graphics and the like are displayed on the face of first section 51 to be visible through the transparent wall. Since the purpose of the graphic display is to attract attention to the product displayed in the shelf 40, the graphic display need not be limited to printed graphics or the like. Active displays such as flashing lights, rotating discs or other attention-getting devices may be mounted on or otherwise supported by first section 51 so long as the active display fits within the space 99 between first face 11 and transparent wall 70.

[0020] Where the thickness of first section 51 is substantially less than the width of space 99, it may be desireable to either secure the exposed face of first section 51 directly in contact with wall 70 or spaced from wall 70 with section 51 directly against the first face 11 of the shelf 40. To effect this arrangement, a relatively small portion of the first section 51 may be folded from the major plane of first section 51 to form a foot 54. The foot 54 may be formed on the bottom edge of section 51 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 or along one or both side edges of first section 51. Where section 51 is to be held against the front of face 11, the foot 54 is folded to extend toward the transparent wall 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Where the face of first section 51 is to be held in contact with the transparent wall 70, the foot 54 is folded to extend toward first face 11. The length of foot 54 will depend on the width of space 99 and the result to be achieved. Where panel 40 is formed of heavy plastic sheet, paper stock or the like, foot 54 is preferably longer than the width of space 99 and folded at an acute angle so that foot 54 remains trapped against transparent wall 70 (or face 11) as the folded portion attempts to return to its original position, thus urging the first section 51 in the direction opposite that in which the foot 54 extends.

[0021] Any of various graphic displays (passive or active) may be carried on the first face of first section 11. For example, product-specific information and/or pricing information may be displayed. Since the display panel 40 is easily removeable, different display panels may be substituted at will without removing the display shelf 40 from its mounting.

[0022] From the foregoing it will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be employed in various arrangements to obtain the benefit of the many advantages and features disclosed. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth together with details of the structure and function of the invention, this disclosure is to be considered illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of size, shape and arrangements of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A combination comprising: (a) a shelf for supporting and displaying products adjacent one face of a substantially transparent panel comprising: (i) a support panel having a first face lying in a substantially vertical plane and defining a lower edge, first and second laterally opposed end edges, and an upper edge; (ii) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially horizontal plane substantially normal to said vertical plane below the upper edge of the support panel for a substantial portion of the lateral distance between the laterally opposed end edges of the support panel; and (iii) a containment wall extending upwardly from the top face of said floor with a substantial portion thereof spaced horizontally from and substantially parallel with the plane of said first face of said support panel; and (b) a removeable graphic display comprising a display panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and a score line dividing said display panel into first and second sections hingedly joined along said score line with said first section aligned with and adjacent said first face of said support panel and said second section aligned with and adjacent said top face of said floor.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said first section of said display panel includes a foot extending from said first section at an angle which deviates from the major plane of said first section.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said display panel includes an active display.
 4. A combination comprising: (a) a substantially transparent wall; (b) a shelf for supporting and displaying products adjacent one face of said substantially transparent wall comprising: a support panel having a first face lying in a substantially vertical plane and defining a lower edge, first and second laterally opposed end edges, and an upper edge with said first face mounted adjacent one face of said transparent wall and defining a space between said first face and said transparent wall; (ii) a floor having a top face lying in a substantially horizontal plane substantially normal to said vertical plane below the upper edge of the support panel for a substantial portion of the lateral distance between the laterally opposed end edges of the support panel; and (iii) a containment wall extending upwardly from the top face of said floor with a substantial portion thereof spaced horizontally from and substantially parallel with the plane of said first face of said support panel; and (c) a removeable graphic display comprising a display panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and a score line dividing said display panel into first and second sections hingedly joined along said score line with said first section extending into said space between the transparent wall and said first face of said support panel and said second section aligned with and adjacent said top face of said floor.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said first section of said display panel includes a foot extending from said first section at an angle which deviates from the major plane of said first section.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the length of said foot is greater than the width of said space between the transparent wall and the first face of said support panel.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said display panel supports an active display.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said foot comprises a portion of said first section folded to deviate from the major plane of the face of said first section.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said substantially transparent wall forms a door. 